(QCOSTARICA) A new slippage has occurred on the western slopes of the Irazu volcano, reports the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI), stating that the event is considered “significant”.
The slip was detected on Tuesday afternoon, around 1:40pm, in an area where since last December there the slope has shown instability.
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[/su_pullquote]The OVISCORI says, though this slip this week was much smaller than the one of December 17, 2014, worrisome is the acceleration in ground displacement.There were four minor slips last month (May).
Since last year, there has been a growing rift of a few hundred metres on the west edge, threatening radio and television antennas located by telecommunications companies.
The OVSICORI says it will continue the geodetic and seismic monitoring of the area to keep the population and civil protection authorities informed.
Situated in the Cordillera Central close to the city of Cartago, at t 3,432 metres (11,260 feet) the Irazu is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica.
The Irazu has erupted at least 23 times since its first historically recorded eruption in 1723. Its most famous recent eruption began March 19, 1963 (continuing until 1965) on the day US President John F. Kennedy started a state visit to Costa Rica. It showered the capital San José and much of the central highlands of Costa Rica with ash. See our report Falling Ash? Costa Rica Has Lived Through It Before: The 1963-65 Eruption of Irazú Volcano
The latest eruption lasted only 1 day, and occurred on December 8, 1994. It occurred at a flank vent and was a phreatic eruption, which produced lahars.
